|
back to
Our Expeditions
|
North Pole Extreme (ski)
Code: NPE
Duration (Barneo-Barneo): 18 days/ 17 nights
(Longyearbyen-Longyearbyen): 23 days/ 22 nights
A day before: meeting at Longyearbyen airport, transfer to guesthouse.
1st day |
Meeting with guide, collection of your expedition clothing kit, check-out your individual and group gear, general instruction.
Preparation to the training trip and packing the sledge.
19:00 Introductory dinner.
Overnight at the guesthouse. |
2nd day |
10:00 Training trip in the Longyearbyen surrounding.
Overnight at the guesthouse. |
3rd day |
16:00 Information meeting, where our staff will brief you on the situation at the Barneo region, planned departure time and answer your questions.
Packing the expedition sledge.
Overnight at the guesthouse. |
4th day |
Transfer to the airport, security check, boarding.
Flight from Longyearbyen to Barneo (approx. flight duration: 2 hrs 30 min).
Acquaintance with Barneo Ice Camp, located at 89 degree North.
Lunch in Barneo mess-tent.
Pitching the expedition camp at Barneo site.
Dinner.
Overnight at the expedition tents (1 tent accommodates 2 persons). |
days 5th to 20th |
We challenge the severe Arctic . Ski trek to the North Pole, overnight sleeping in the expedition tents on the drifting ice. The start point around 88° North will be decided in dependence on the ice conditions. See also " One day of the ski expedition ". |
21st day |
On the arrival at the top of the globe we will celebrate it, and you can make a short phone call to your friends or relatives via satellite phone. We will spend a few hours nearby the Pole before helicopter takes us back to Barneo Ice Camp.
Dinner in the Barneo mess-tent.
Flight from Barneo to Longyearbyen on the AN-74 aircraft (approx. flight duration 2 h 30 min).
Transfer to your hotel. Night at the hotel. |
22nd day |
The North Pole Certificate ceremony. Time and place are to be discussed with expedition participants and announced in advance.
Night at the hotel. |
23rd day |
Free time. You have a chance to take part in Svalbard entertainment programmes (for additional costs, advance booking required). Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
End of our service. |
*Barneo Ice Camp operates Longyearbyen time.
Changes and amendments may apply to the programme, depending on the weather, ice or other conditions. It is important to consider possible delays or alterations, and take them with patience. We strongly recommend you to acquire insurance against full or partial cancellation of the expedition.
Important: Each expedition to the North Pole is the ultimate adventure full of random factors. Though we are making all possible efforts to accomplish every expedition, VICAAR reserves the rights to change or cancel an itinerary due to weather and / or ice conditions, group fitness, political situation, strikes, wars, revolutions, terrorism and / or other factors beyond its control. Such changes are to be made in our customers’ interests and with regards to their safety. Please, see Terms and Conditions.
Schedules and costs of The North Pole Extreme (ski) expedition Season 2008
Expedition code |
Periods of the expeditions |
Flight dates
Longyearbyen - Barneo - Longyearbyen |
Price |
Status |
|
Longyearbyen - Longyearbyen |
Departure from Longyearbyen |
Departure from Barneo |
Euro, € |
|
NPE_2 |
24th March - 16th April |
27th March |
14th April |
19,400 |
Available |
NPE_1 |
7th April - 29th April |
10th March |
27th April |
19,400 |
Optional |
Attention:
1. Our agency does not guarantee expeditions starting on optional dates to be conducted if the group has insufficient number of participants. Please, see Terms and Conditions.
2. In accordance to the paragraph 4.3 of Terms and Conditions, prices are based on the tariffs and exchange rates operating at the time of publication and therefore are subject to change. Please, check the latest prices before booking.
3. Note: Costs of the expeditions increase at 10% for booking made after 1st February 2008.
Price includes: |
Price does not include: |
• Meeting at the Longyearbyen airport ( Spitsbergen , Norway );
• 2 transfers airport-hotel-airport;
• Introductory dinner in Longyearbyen;
• Training tour in the Longyearbyen surrounding;
• Aircraft flights Longyearbyen - Barneo - Longyearbyen;
• Helicopter flights according the programme;
• Using Barneo facilities;
• Full catering at Barneo Ice Camp and on the trek;
• Disposable plates, spoons, forks and cups at Barneo (2 sets per visiting a mess-tent per person);
• Personal polar expedition clothes kit (please, see Equipment check-list);
• Rent of the safety equipment (communication, navigation aid, weapon);
• Rent of the skis with binding and ski poles;
• Rent of the cargo sledge and tent;
• Rent of the other group gear;
• Stove fuel;
• 1 satellite phone call from the North Pole (2 min maximum, if battery capacity is sufficient);
• Certificate of the North Pole visit;
• Festive ceremony at Longyearbyen;
• VICAAR Guides service;
• Accommodation in the heated tents at Barneo and full catering at Barneo Camp before departure to Longyearbyen (in case the group completed expedition before the time;
• 50 kilos of luggage. |
• Travel costs from your place of residence to Longyearbyen ( Spitsbergen , Norway ) and back;
• Accommodation in Longyearbyen;
• Catering in Longyearbyen;
• Transfers in Longyearbyen (excl. airport-hotel-airport for travel home and hotel-airport-hotel for travel to the North Pole);
• Activities in Longyearbyen (dog-sledge rides, tours to the glacier, excursion to the coal mine, depending on the weather);
• Alcohol drinks ;
• Full medical-evacuation insurance with minimum coverage for evacuation - 50,000 Euro, required;
• Insurance against full or partial cancellation of the expedition, luggage insurance, life insurance (strongly recommended);
• Private belongings;
• All the unforeseen costs related to the flights delays;
• Souvenirs and postal expenses;
• Overweight luggage - 20 Euro/kilo. |
What a member of the expedition to the North Pole has to know.
Ski expedition to the North Pole - is a complex mission that demands a good physical and psychological preparation. It is always better to enjoy the trek than to suffer of it. In order to estimate your abilities and prepare yourself better, you ought to know what to expect.
Physical exercises:
You are going to walk on skis or afoot (depending on the ice conditions) for 8-10 hours daily for 6-8 days. Besides, you have to pull 40-50 kg expedition sledge with equipment, fuel, and food. The ice surface is mostly rugged, making smooth and comfortable sliding pretty unlikely.
Cold:
The air temperature in the Pole vicinity during the expedition period lies usually between -20 C° and -35 C° and it is good if you have endured it in the past. Apart that wind may dramatically increase cooling effect. Daily temperature deviations in the Arctic are not significant in April. Sun neither sets nor rises high over the horizon.
Conclusions:
- Consult your doctor before making up a decision about expedition to the North Pole.
- Previous experience of the tours, ascents, expeditions and winter camping could prove very useful.
- Doing various winter sports would be very helpful.
Ask yourself: What do I need it for?
If you know the right answer, don't hesitate to call +7 812 713 2781, and we shall work it out together!
List of equipment for The North Pole Extreme expedition ( Code NPE) |
|
You should bring your own: |
• Plastic mug with press-on cap : 1 |
• Strong plastic spoon :1 |
• Plastic bowl of 2-3 cups capacity : 1 | strong
• 1 L stainless steel thermos: 1 | strong
• Knife : 1 |
• Carabiners : 2 standard |
• Sunglasses or goggles 100% UV & IR : 1 |
• Sun cream: SPF 40 large tube |
• Hygienic lipstick: SPF 40, at least 2 pieces |
• Personal medical kit: medicine, you normally take, along with aspirin, plaster, bandage, etc. |
• Personal hygienic kit incl. toilet paper, toothbrush, etc. |
• Wide-mouthed plastic bottle for using as an urinal in the night: 1 |
• Large bag or rucksack for your gear: 1 or 2 |
• Casual look garment for civilized places |
|
Received from us and becomes your property: |
• Thin underwear made of Polycolon: 2 sets |
• Expedition thermal underwear made of Power Stretch: 1 set |
• Polartec 200 jacket and trousers: 1 set |
• Storm shell jacket and pants: 1 set |
• Warm coat and trousers with Thinsulate insulation: 1 set |
• Light hat with Windstopper membrane: 1 |
• Windstopper pile hat : 1 |
• Hat for sleeping : 1 |
• Polycolon balaclava : 1 |
• Thick expedition socks: 2 pairs |
• Expedition footwear: 1 pair |
• Thinsulate shoes for tent: 1 pair |
• Expedition mittens: 1 pair |
• Thinsulate mittens: 1 pair |
• WindPro gloves: 1 pair |
• Individual sleeping bag liner: 1 |
• 40 L backpack: 1 |
• 6 mm rope: 10 m |
|
Free rented from VICAAR: |
• Expedition tent: 1 for two persons |
• Ski with binding and skins: 1 pair |
• Ski poles : 1 pair |
• Cargo sledge : 1 |
• Expedition class (-30 C°) sleeping bag |
• Sleeping mats 40 mm |
• Cooking stove with fuel, cooking utensils |
• Litter bags |
|
Other useful things you might bring: |
• Chemical hand- and foot-warmer bags |
• Neoprene face mask |
• Compression stuff bags |
• Photo and video equipment |
|
